Comments on: The Fake House and the Thornton Tunnel

By: ANNA ANGELIS

ANNA ANGELIS — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 22:59:25 +0000

Hopped on a freight train in Burnaby, in 2016, that was headed West. next thing I knew it was dark and I was in the tunnel. Didn’t take long before there was no more oxygen, and if it wasn’t for my rolled up sleeping mat, clothes, backpack, I would be dead very likely. It took a long time before I saw light again. Going over the Burrard Inlet. That was insane. But was luckily able to suck any leftover oxygen that had been absorbed into said items and get just enough to not feel like I was about to die.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 08:07:09 +0000

In the early 80s I lived on McGill near Wall St. I was relatively new in Canada and liked to explore. I discovered the north portal one day when out walking. I tried to walk the CP tracks to Port Moody from Wall St in East Van. A bit ambitious as it turned out…it was hot and slow going along the gravel and sleepers and I eventually gave up somewhere to the east of Confederation Park. After that I found out, using maps I think, the route of the tunnel and rode my bike to find the other end, which I did. Never knew about the “house” though. In case anyone cares, there are loads of abandoned tracks and even stations in London, England. I was in my early 20s and trespassed frequently, although every tunnel I found was securely barricaded. At the entrance to some, I could hear tube trains running.

By: Greg Arden

Greg Arden — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:44:18 +0000

This must have constructed with a boring machine?

By: Paul Hodgson

Paul Hodgson — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 22:13:58 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. In recent months, there appears to have been a lot of construction activity on that lot. Any idea what they have been adding to it?

By: patrick dunphy

patrick dunphy — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 21:54:01 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. I’m not sure of the capacity now but definitely a big increase , I remember during a night shift in the tunnel, we were still being transported to the 1500m point when we passed 2 coyotes !!.

By: patrick dunphy

patrick dunphy — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 17:52:21 +0000

I spent a year and a half rewiring this tunnel back in 2021..they installed 16 new jet fans to clear the tunnel of fumes more quickly so that more trains can pass through quicker

By: Jim Nicholson

Jim Nicholson — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 03:44:57 +0000

In reply to Dave Maclean. yes I made a few trips down there always with Leho leading the way and ending with a doobie at the end of the tunnel

By: Dave Maclean

Dave Maclean — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 08:54:47 +0000

In reply to Dave Maclean. I guess I should have read your post just a little closer. I missed your saying you remember them well.

By: Dave Maclean

Dave Maclean — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 08:51:10 +0000

In reply to Jim Nicholson. That would have been me. Of course Leho was the ring-leader. Were you along for that little jaunt?

By: Jim Nicholson

Jim Nicholson — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 16:20:38 +0000

In reply to Dave Maclean. Dave Maciean also known as JJ? I remember those tunnel trips well!

By: Douglas Dunn

Douglas Dunn — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 19:31:08 +0000

I did a bit of research on the tunnel a few years ago, Managed to get plans and drawings from back east, let me know if your interested in adding to your article

By: Bob Ritchie

Bob Ritchie — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 22:57:33 +0000

Fascinating, I have chased trains all over BC and had never heard of this.
Thanks

By: Randy Emilio

Randy Emilio — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 09:50:53 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. I’m fairly new to BC. I love reading these articles. Thanks for sharing

By: Bill V Lee

Bill V Lee — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 16:52:02 +0000

The path of the tunnel under Burnaby is on many maps as a single thin diagonal line nowadays.
There was a huge amount of refurbishing of the ventilation system this summer, they blocked the streets and lane to bring in some equipment to lower down.

By: Darren Russell

Darren Russell — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 18:09:38 +0000

In reply to Laurie Anthony Myles. About 150 ft or 45 m

By: Wayne O'Neill

Wayne O'Neill — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:37:04 +0000

Interesting,
Thanks!

By: Don Kennedy

Don Kennedy — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:04:07 +0000

My Grandfather and Grandmother owned that property for many years, before it was expropriated by the railway, as well as their neighbours property. We lived behind them on Pender St.

By: Andrea Nicholson

Andrea Nicholson — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 16:36:52 +0000

Another great piece of history Eve, thank you as always. I knew a bit about this and the required design but nothing about the questionable venting for those working the trains.

By: Dave Maclean

Dave Maclean — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 23:03:03 +0000

There used to be a tunnel that ran from the main Post Office building on Homer to the Waterfront Station. In the era before “airmail”, it was sent on “trainmail” to the north and east.
I worked graveyard shift there from 1977 to 1986 and one of the guys I worked with knew where the keys were to just about anthing or any place you wanted to go to in that big building.
Back then, in the summer, the mail would slow down so that we would run out of work till the next truck would come in. The supervisor, wary of HIS supervisor coming down and finding us just standing around with our thumbs up out butts chatting, would tell us to “shoo” and we’d hang out in the back room playing cards or whatever till the next truck came in.
One morning we decided to check out the tunnel to see where it ran. 5 or 6 of us entered the pitch black tunnel and turned on the lights. We had “borrowed” a fork lift and attached a cart to it so we could ride. It went north for what seemed like 100 or so feet then turned left and sloped downward gently. We walked for what seemed like 3 or 4 blocks then the tunnel sloped downward towards Waterfront Station. It was at that point we ran into a locked gate. So, we did what any intrepid explorers would do: we all signed an empty mail bag with our names and the date we were there saying that “we intrepid travellers braved epic darkness, leaks and fences to arrive at a cement wall where we smoked a joint and then went back to work”.

By: Gord Grant

Gord Grant — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 23:51:22 +0000

I bought your book and found a surprise photo of my wife’s father at the post office tunnel with a bike. Excellent reading for the entire family now has a copy. Thanks for a great book.